YouTube Music Shifts Lyrics Access to Premium Subscription Model
In a significant change for its users, YouTube Music has begun restricting access to song lyrics, requiring a premium subscription for users to view them. This decision has stirred reactions among users who previously enjoyed the feature for free. In this article, we explore the implications of this change, the company's reasoning, and what users can expect moving forward.
YouTube Music currently holds the fifth-largest share of the music streaming market worldwide, at 9.7%, trailing behind competitors like Spotify, Tencent Music, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. In the U.S., its market share is similarly low, prompting Google to explore new revenue streams by placing lyrics behind a paywall.
Lyrics Now Exclusively Available with Premium Subscription
As part of a new initiative, Google is requiring users to subscribe to YouTube Music Premium to access song lyrics. Users on both Android and iOS platforms have reported receiving notifications indicating limits on lyric views. After five song lyric views, free users will only see partial lyrics, with the remainder blurred.
Users have expressed mixed feelings about this shift, especially since lyrics were previously accessible without cost. While some users continue to enjoy lyrics access on their free versions of YouTube Music, it seems the paywall is rolling out gradually worldwide.
Details on YouTube Music Premium Subscription
The YouTube Music Premium subscription, priced at $10.99 per month in the U.S., offers several advantages including ad-free listening, offline downloads, and the ability to continue playing music in the background while using other apps. Additional features include the innovative Ask Music, which allows users to create playlists based on specific vibes rather than artists.
Subscription Options and Pricing
YouTube Music offers multiple subscription tiers: an individual plan for $10.99 per month, a family plan for $16.99 per month (covering up to six members), and a reduced student plan for $5.49. Alternatively, users can opt for a comprehensive YouTube Premium subscription for $13.99, providing ad-free video content alongside the benefits of YouTube Music Premium.
Google has noted significant adoption of its subscription services, with more than 325 million paid subscribers being reported.
For those who haven't yet subscribed, YouTube Music is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms, providing an accessible way to explore a vast library of music.
